Noun: zymogen zI-mu-jun
- Any of a group of compounds that are inactive precursors of enzymes and require some change (such as the hydrolysis of a fragment that masks an active enzyme) to become active
"Pepsinogen is a zymogen that becomes active pepsin in the stomach";
- proenzyme
Derived forms: zymogens
Type of: organic compound
Encyclopedia: Zymogen